CCS Urges Turkish Professor’s Release from Prison for Health Reasons

September 20, 2012

On September 2, 2012, Professor Halil Kemal Gürüz’s family reported that he had suffered chest pains in his prison cell. He was transferred to intensive care in a hospital and an angiography was performed for blockage of one of his arteries. He is now back in prison.

We are deeply concerned that continued imprisonment presents serious threats to a man of his age and condition. We urge Turkish authorities to ensure Dr. Gürüz’s immediate release on bail or bond.

We are an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world. We write again in concern about Dr. Halil Kemal Gürüz.

In July, we wrote to you because Dr, Gürüz, a chemical engineer, education administrator, retired professor, and former university rector, was arrested for his supposed role in the 1997 alleged conspiracy against Turkey’s first Islamic-led government (“Ergenekon”). We understand that Professor Gürüz was already on bail based on 2009 charges of involvement in the same conspiracy. We therefore respectfully urged you to intervene in Dr. Gürüz’s case to ensure that it proceeds in a manner consistent with Turkey’s obligations under domestic and international law, especially since he appears to be penalized solely for exercising his right to free speech.

On September 2, 2012, we learned from Professor Gürüz’ family members that he had suffered chest pains in his prison cell. He was transferred to intensive care in a hospital and an angiography was performed for blockage of one of his arteries. He is now back in prison. We are deeply concerned that continued imprisonment presents serious threats to a man of his age and condition.

We urge you to ensure Dr. Gürüz’s immediate release on bail or bond pending the resolution of the proceedings, as we understand that Dr. Gürüz has not been accused of violence and poses no threat of violence warranting pre-trial detention. His willingness earlier this summer to return to Turkey from abroad to answer police questions show that he would respect conditions imposed on bail.